It’s Thursday in the middle of July. Many hockey players have found their way to a boat on a lake or somewhere quiet away from the game for a bit. Some of the Blackhawks’ prospects are getting ready for development camps for the World Juniors later in the month. And some players are contemplating their future in the game. Whatever the future holds for The Captain, Jonathan Toews created a generation of hockey fans in Chicago and,🌳 with a cast of terrific players, brought a franchise back to prominence. He wore the C with pride and class longer than ♔anyone in franchise history.
I jumped on the Bardown Hockey Talk Podcast yesterday to talk some Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, next year’s draft lottery, improved teams… all sorts of fun stuff. If you’ve got some time to waste today and want to hear/see my thoughts on the coming season in the middle of July, give em a watch/listen.
Congratulations are in order for Tyler Johnson and his fiancée, Megan. They shared some beautiful photos of their engagement over the weekend on Instagram. Love it! Congrats!!
The Daily Faceoff shared their in the coming season, and Chicago’s Lukas Reichel made their list. Here’s what they had to say about Reichel:
Just about everyone thought Reichel was capable of being a full-time NHLer last year. But the Hawks were in full-on tank mode, and with Reichel being just 20 at the time, there was no reason to rush him. Taken 17th overall in 2020, Reichel had 57 points in 56 games with Rockford in 2021-22 before scoring 20 goals and 51 points this year. He also skated in 23 NHL games, recording seven goals and 15 points. The team is in dire straits next year, with very few high-quality forward options behind Connor Bedard. Really, there’s nothing in the way stopping Rei𒁏chel next season.
For what it’s worth, while they didn’t make this list I would submit defensemen Alex Vlasic and Isaak Phillips are ready for the NHL. I would have both of them in my opening night lineup with Reichel.
Speaking of Rockford, this is gold. The IceHogs’ social team gave a young fan some run at their opponents in this fantastic chirp-worthy video.
The Blackhawks are losing a scout to USA Hockey. Rod Braceful, who had been an amateur scout for the Blackhawks over the past couple years, has been named the director of player personnel for the USA National Development Program. Congrats! This is from the release:
Braceful returns to USA Hockey after serving as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for the previous two seasons (2021-23), where his duties ranged from amateur scouting across the United States for upcoming NHL Drafts, to pro scouting, including evaluating players who may be involved in future trades or free ag🎃ent signings for Chicago.
The (surprising) second overall pick has signed! Leo Carlsson’s ELC is done with the Anaheim Ducks. Remember: he can go back to Europe this season and the deal slides a year. But the paper is done and the Ducks’ big pick has signed.
Finally, let’s go ahead and smile for a bit on an overcast, it-rained-all-day-yesterday Thursday morning.
